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People sometimes say that having a sudden realization feels like being struck by lightning. Asmodeus Alice did not know how being struck by lightning feels like, but it certainly couldn't even compare to what he was feeling right now.
His body froze, and the steady sound of rain felt like a dragon's roar in his ears.
Asmodeus Alice, son of the Asmodeus Amaryllis, the Thirteen Crown’s Head of Lust, just realized he had fallen under the seduction spell of his master and friend, Iruma.
It all started a couple of days ago. He left Iruma-sama in the library to attend a training session with Balam-sensei, and when he came to pick him up to walk home together he found him asleep on top of his notebooks. Feeling a bit guilty for having to disturb Iruma-sama’s rest, he reached to gently shake him awake, when his gaze landed on one of the pages under Iruma's hand.
It was his name written next to Iruma’s own, under some peculiar symbol. He took a closer look. It looked like an umbrella but with a heart on top. Alice tilted his head trying to decipher the meaning of it. Did it refer to that one occasion when he held an umbrella for Iruma-sama during his training before the Cannonball Execution match? But that was a normal umbrella, no hearts attached. Was it possible that Iruma-sama enjoyed that gesture? Was that the meaning behind this little added element? Would it please him if Alice offered to hold his umbrella for him again? Or maybe he was expecting that? Was that something “friends” were usually doing?
Alice didn’t get a chance to ask, because when he woke Iruma-sama up, his master’s stomach growled, bringing his attention to more important matters. The next day, with Valac around, he would be simply too busy dealing with her antics. But today she left early, yelling something about “Super Secret Girls Meeting,” so he had a chance to walk Iruma-sama home without her jumping around.
Alice looked up at the cloudy sky. It looked like it could start raining any moment and soon after they left the school gates, the first droplets began to fall. Perfect. He won’t have to ask anything. He can just test his theory and if it was correct, he will make Iruma-sama happy. What could possibly go wrong? He thought as he offered Iruma-sama to walk under his umbrella.
Ten minutes later, he realized something was very wrong.
And not with Iruma-sama, no. Alice was glancing at him every so often to gauge his reaction and everything looked good. At first, he looked a bit surprised, but murmured a quiet “Thank you” and accepted the offer. Alice could swear he saw a tiny, shy smile on Iruma’s face when they started walking side by side. He almost squealed with joy. Success !
Looking back, it was at this moment he truly fell for Iruma.
He was smiling happily as he looked at Iruma-sama but then he noticed that his ears are a bit red. Was he blushing? He frowned and leaned a bit to get a better look at his face. And sure enough there was a pretty blush adorning Iruma-sama’s face. ‘ Pretty ,’ thought Alice.
For a split second he was worried Iruma-sama may be embarrassed by sharing an umbrella with him. Was Alice overstepping some boundaries?
But then Iruma-sama turned his head a bit and when their eyes met, the tiny smile grew a bit wider. Alice felt his own cheeks turn a bit red as he smiled back. ‘ Cute, ’ his mind supplied. And then his mind froze when he noticed a few more things.
First, their closeness. Their faces were only a few inches apart and their arms touched. He felt warmth radiating from the Iruma-sama.
Second, Iruma-sama was really pretty. Not that Alice didn’t notice that before, but he was focused on Iruma-sama’s other qualities. Such as great talent and charisma, befitting the future King. Now he couldn't help being hypnotised by his sparkling blue eyes, cute round face, and the sweetest smile Alice has ever seen. He felt his heart beating faster and warmth spreading inside his body. It was raining, yet he felt like he was standing in the sun, completely enveloped in warm light. He felt lightheaded.
And this feeling, plus the third thing he noticed, were what brought his thought to a screeching halt.
It wasn’t normal for him. In fact, It never happened before, but he wasn’t raised by a master of seduction for nothing. He may have refused to learn his mother’s ways, but learning how to recognize when someone was trying to use a seduction spell on him and how to ward against it was common sense. As a noble, he couldn’t allow himself to be tricked, used as a mere pawn in a political war. Even his mother, popular as she was, had enemies.
But all his training failed him in this case. He was already undoubtedly under the spell of his master and friend. There could be no other explanation.
Then his thoughts started to race. Why would Iruma-sama do that? And how? When? He racked his brain trying to remember all the spells his mother told him about. Most of those spells required something belonging to your target or…
Or their name.
His name! Alice’s eyes widened. Iruma-sama did use his name, didn’t he? It was on the drawing he did in his notebook. There were both their names under an umbrella/! So this must have been a sort of magic circle! But why did it start working just now? Were there some kind of conditions to meet? Was it activated by sharing an umbrella? If yes, it had to be quite a strong spell to last long enough for the activation chance to come.
So he now knew how, but not why. Why would Iruma-sama use such a spell in the first place. Was it a test? Did he fail? But Iruma-sama didn’t look disappointed. In fact, he looked… pleased? Was he happy that it worked? Was it possible he just simply wanted to seduce him?
Alice felt dizzy. Iruma-sama… desired him? But if so, he didn’t need to resort to magic. Alice would gladly…
Wait. Wait, wait, wait! Would he accept? ‘ I would’ , he realised. ‘ I definitely would. Oh. My. Devil.’
------
Iruma was having a mild crisis. Alright, a big crisis. The biggest crisis ever since he realised he had a crush on Azz. And now they were walking arm-to-arm so close they were touching! And they were sharing an umbrella!
It may be their second time, but the first umbrella incident happened before he realized his feelings. He felt his face burning and it took him every ounce of his willpower to not grin like an idiot.
He glanced at Azz and noticed his frown. Oh no, he was so nervous he stopped talking! Azz was probably thinking he was mad or something!
He tried to smile reassuringly and it seemed to work. Azz returned his smile with a slight blush on his cheeks. Iruma briefly wondered if Azz knew he had a tendency to blush, and then if he knew how handsome he was.
He has to avert his gaze, not wanting Azz’s good looks to make him blush even more. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to hide his feelings much longer.
He, Suzuki Iruma, has the biggest crush on Asmodeus Alice.
He heard Azz’s breath hitch, but just couldn't look at him for a moment. He needed to calm down his racing heart first!
Suddenly he felt Azz moving the umbrella to his other hand. He opened his mouth to offer to take it from him only to gasp when he felt Azz arm circling around him. Was he… hugging him? His brain short circuited. Huh?
“A-Azz-kun?” he mumbled, raising his head to look at his face. He realized they stopped walking at some point. “What…”
“You slayed me yet again, Iruma-sama!” cried Azz.
“S… Slayed?”
“As expected from you, Iruma-sama! You not only went straight for what you desired but you also made me realise my own desire! Truly splendid strategy!”
“Huh?” Iruma was lost. ‘What did I do this time??’
“I am so deeply ashamed I didn’t understand my feelings before! You must have been so disappointed by my ignorance!”
Iruma blinked. Feelings? Then his eyes widened. Oh God, Did he say that aloud???
He looked at Azz with wide eyes, unable to say a word, but Azz only smiled gently at him when he said.
“If you will have me, Iruma-sama, I will be yours.”
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Iruma laid in his bed, trying very hard not to implode under the full weight of his feelings. His face was hot when he remembered how he arrived home with his new boyfriend, giddy and blushing with their arms entwined. When they separated by the gate, Azz leaned down and whispered:
“I was happy to share the umbrella with you, Iruma-sama. We should do that the next time it rains, too.”
He had to ask President Amelie, since when did demons know about Love-Love Umbrella?